Mystery miles

[Amarillo]

This is the case that resulted in that ruling I think.. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...-liable-for-garages-parking-fine-1351118.html

I think that has been overruled by a more recent judicial review.

I had a PCN withdrawn by TFL following the loss of THREE appeals, for allegedly driving in the congestion charge zone.

It was only the second car I had ever sold, and the buyer tricked me into exchanging the wrong parts of the V5.

I was able to prove that I'd sold the vehicle, even though I was still the registered keeper, and that I was on the summit of Am Bodach with Ben Nevis in the background as the exact same time as my former car was photographed being driven over Tower Bridge.

TFL either withdrew the PCN because the law was on my side, or because they were embarrassed that the new registered keeper, sometime after the date of the alleged offence, was an alias at TFL's Catford Bus Garage.



Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

 

[GillianC]

My husband had an MX5. He left it with a garage to be serviced. That evening he went to the pub with some friends and was most surprised to see his MX5 parked outside of the pub. The mechanic from the garage had borrowed it for the evening. Very naughty mechanic.

That isn't good at all. Imagine pulling up in a car park at the coast and seeing someone sitting outside your Cali having a picnic

 

[Billy]

Once you find out the truth, please make sure you name and shame this dealer

 

[westfalia]

It was hydraulic failure in the roof - just under 2K to repair everything (been quoted), that includes the roof dent caused by the scissors twisting on lowering. I'm now torn about going down the road and getting a manual roof fitted - there is a company in Cornwall offering to do the conversion with a Beach roof they have in stock - it's a project they are keen about and with all the roof problems I've been through in the last three years I really am open to ideas.

Just for added info, to buy the parts needed from VW for the manual conversion
is about 1000€.
That is 2 gas struts and the fix down buckles and bar.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Just for added info, to buy the parts needed from VW for the manual conversion
is about 1000€.
That is 2 gas struts and the fix down buckles and bar.

That's interesting. Are you saying that the Beach (and Coast) roof component is the same as the SE/Ocean, so a manual conversion only requires the hydraulics to be stripped out and gas struts fitted?

Sorry if that's been answered somewhere before, but I thought the Beach and Ocean had different pop-top structures.

(And if so I bet you could buy a pair of gas struts, and some kind of pull-down handle, a lot cheaper than 1,000 euros! Maybe an opportunity for someone to offer an aftermarket conversion kit.)

As soon as my hydraulic roof starts showing any problems at all, it's going to get converted to manual if that's feasible at sensible cost!

 

[georgemojo]

Thank you for that Westfalia. An update folks ... the rottweiler, aka the wife, has just chewed off the ear of the poor service manager at the dealership accusing someone of joyriding on the hottest weekend of the year - only to be told the mileage on the invoice was incorrectly typed in by 273 miles! She is currently eating humble pie in the garden and I apologise for wasting all your time. But I guess it highlights the fact perhaps recording your mileage before going in for repair work could be worth it. I am also sharing the humble pie.

 

[GrannyJen]

Thank you for that Westfalia. An update folks ... the rottweiler, aka the wife, has just chewed off the ear of the poor service manager at the dealership accusing someone of joyriding on the hottest weekend of the year - only to be told the mileage on the invoice was incorrectly typed in by 273 miles! She is currently eating humble pie in the garden and I apologise for wasting all your time. But I guess it highlights the fact perhaps recording your mileage before going in for repair work could be worth it. I am also sharing the humble pie.

Thank you for telling us that and no need to eat humble pie with the forum. I found it all very disquieting as, sadly, it does go on. I am pleased it has been resolved and you are at peace again. Neither you nor your wife were responsible for the typing error so replace humble pie with a nice bi ice cream and go and sit in the sun

 

[ArunAlec]

I'm now wondering how big a job it would be to convert an SE/Ocean roof to the manual beach version? Could you keep the original roof and canvas? Apart from the extra front vent, are they different? Could the wiring, motor and hydraulics just be drained and isolated with the extra SE/Ocean struts beingv removed and stored? If left in situe, the main gubbins could always be reinstated at a later date. Or is it a much more complcated issue? I'm curious.

Have a look at this excellent guide to converting.....
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/roof-conversion-hydraulic-manual.21626/#post-246892

 

[larrylamb]

Just for added info, to buy the parts needed from VW for the manual conversion
is about 1000€.
That is 2 gas struts and the fix down buckles and bar.

Does it not have a different bellows size? I know Ocean and Beach toppers are different sizes.

 

[westfalia]

Velma's Dad larrylamb Yes all the components fit even though the beach
roof bellows are a different size. I presume the gas struts will be set
a little different to allow for that.
Dumé ( from belguim ) has done it, nice chap, he sent me
the ´how to´ guide and i also bought one of his hydraulic rams off him.
Arunalec has posted the thread above.

 

[Romke]

I'm now wondering how big a job it would be to convert an SE/Ocean roof to the manual beach version? Could you keep the original roof and canvas? Apart from the extra front vent, are they different? Could the wiring, motor and hydraulics just be drained and isolated with the extra SE/Ocean struts being removed and stored? If left in situe, the main gubbins could always be reinstated at a later date. Or is it a much more complicated issue? I'm curious.

Somebody on the French forum did it:
http://www.t5zone.com/t24349-califo...ecanique-que-du-bonheur?highlight=toit+manuel

 

[Erbster]

I have a tracker on my Cali and always check it’s location periodically when with the dealer.

 

[Stoneybroke]

Well I didn't know that. Despite the ruling that still doesn't sound right to me. I agree though, they would have to pay the fine and offer compensation or it could get rather ugly for them.

On the other point, an unscrupulous garage or employee could get up to all sorts of things with your vehicle when they have it and with a flexible Cali the mind boggles!

This happened when a group of offences moved from criminal traffic law to civil penalties. Most unfair, but where the police have powers to find out the driver under section 172 of the Road Traffic Act, this was not deemed to be appropriate for the civil penalty, so whilst the driver commits the transgression (no longer an offence) there is a strict liability with the registered keeper.

When we hand our vehicles over to a garage we trust that they will use them only in the context of the repair, i.e. test driving, transfer to a local body shop or specialist. In this case, if there is no reasonable explanation, the California may have been taken without the owners consent, that is used for purposes beyond the implied consent given to the garage. That's a criminal offence committed by the driver (taker) and anyone they took along for the ride... Might be worth muttering those words of the garage get awkward...


Haha, the update came when I got distracted from my post... Being sure of the facts always helps before making accusations